Polyurethane (PU) foam was used to immobilize the whole cell of Bacillus pa
steurii. The immobilized cells exhibited the rates of calcite precipitation
and ammonia production as high as those of the free cells. Scanning electr
on micrographs identified the cells embedded in calcite crystals throughout
PU matrices. Calcite in PU showed little effect on the elastic modulus and
tensile strength of the polymer, but increased the compressive strengths o
f concrete cubes, whose cracks were remediated with PU-immobilized cells. T
hese observations led us to believe that the calcite might remain as a form
of precipitation, not as a bonding material within the matrices. (C) 2001
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